"In the Zone"

Cascine

Artists:

As half of Ford & Lopatin, Brooklyn artist Joel Ford works with Oneohtrix Point Never's Daniel Lopatin to meld the idiosyncrasies of 1980s pop with the kind of forward-looking production aesthetic that the duo's Software imprint fosters. No surprise, then, that "In the Zone", Ford's latest track produced under his Airbird moniker along with fellow Software acolyte Napolian, doesn't stray too far from that sound. A bouncing synth melody and a woosh of fizzy white noise ushers in the hiccups of Airbird & Napolian's slap-and-pop bassline, which pairs with the straightforward dancefloor beat to give "In the Zone" its gooey backbone.

Brooklyn singer/songwriter Erika Spring lends her gossamer voice to the new single, too; the pair of retro-futurists at the helm quickly render her soft syllables into inhuman tones. Despite its potpourri of slick sounds, "In the Zone" follows a decidedly linear trajectory with its sultry robo-groove; its glittering ascent into the clouds is earnestly exhilarating.